{"id":3998,"date":"2026-06-04T18:48:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T18:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/?p=3998"},"modified":"2026-06-04T18:48:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T18:48:02","slug":"usda-confirms-new-world-screwworm-in-texas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/2026\/06\/usda-confirms-new-world-screwworm-in-texas\/","title":{"rendered":"USDA Confirms New World Screwworm in Texas"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-3998\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-3998-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-3998-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-3998-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><strong>MONTGOMERY, Ala. \u2013<\/strong> U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the detection of a New World screwworm (NWS) in Zavala County, Texas. The affected animal, a 3-week-old calf, had larvae present in an umbilical lesion. This marks the first reported case of New World screwworm in the United States during the current outbreak. NWS is an animal health concern and is not a food safety or food quality issue.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUSDA has worked diligently to monitor this situation and respond quickly as the threat has moved northward. I commend Secretary Brooke Rollins and USDA animal health professionals for their proactive monitoring and implementing aggressive plans to contain and eradicate New World screwworm.\u201d said <strong>Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Rick Pate<\/strong>. \u201cProtecting Alabama's cattle industry and livestock producers remains our top priority. We are closely monitoring the situation and maintaining strong communication with our federal partners.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Previously eradicated from the United States in the 1960s, NWS is a devastating pest of warm-blooded animals. Unlike many other fly larvae that feed on dead tissue, NWS larvae feed on living tissue, causing severe wounds and potentially fatal infections if left untreated.<\/p>\n<p>\"If livestock producers suspect New World screwworm in their animals, they should contact my office immediately at <strong>334-240-7253<\/strong>,\" said <strong>Alabama State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier<\/strong>. \"It is critical for producers to remain alert and closely monitor their herd\u2019s health. Early detection and quick reporting will help prevent the introduction and spread of this pest in Alabama.\"<\/p>\n<p>Warning signs may include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Head shaking<\/li>\n<li>Decreased appetite<\/li>\n<li>Isolation from the herd<\/li>\n<li>Foul-smelling wounds<\/li>\n<li>Unexplained open lesions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Producers should pay particular attention to newborn animals, postpartum livestock and animals that have recently been handled, transported or subjected to routine management procedures that may create wounds. NWS can infest a variety of wounds on living animals, including castration sites, branding wounds, ear tag sites, insect bites, vaccination sites, umbilical areas and mucosal cavities. Once hatched, the larvae burrow into wounds and feed on living tissue, causing extensive damage through their sharp mouth hooks.<\/p>\n<p>The adult screwworm fly is approximately the size of a common housefly, with distinctive orange eyes, a metallic blue-green body and three dark stripes along its back. Female flies can lay up to 3,000 eggs during their lifespan, making rapid response essential to controlling infestations.<\/p>\n<p>All meat products entering the food supply are safe to consume and must pass rigorous inspection before and after harvest to ensure food safety requirements are met.<\/p>\n<p>ADAI also encourages hunters, pet owners and anyone who works closely with animals to remain alert and report suspected cases.<\/p>\n<p>For more information about NWS, visit agi.alabama.gov\/nws.<\/p>\n<p>Again, anyone who suspects a NWS infestation in livestock, wildlife or companion animals should immediately contact <strong>State Veterinarian Dr. Frazier<\/strong> at <strong>(334) 240-7253<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. food supply remains safe and abundant. Consumers can continue to confidently support Alabama farmers and ranchers by enjoying beef and other meat products.<\/p>\n<p>Cattle producers seeking additional information on NWS prevention and response efforts can visit USDA APHIS's Stop Screwworm webpage at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.screwworm.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.screwworm.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-3998-0-0-1\" class=\"widget_text so-panel widget widget_custom_html\" data-index=\"1\" ><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><hr \/><\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-3998-0-0-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-3998\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/711709670_1437979585030703_6632055510784474468_n.jpg\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/711709670_1437979585030703_6632055510784474468_n.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/711709670_1437979585030703_6632055510784474468_n-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/711709670_1437979585030703_6632055510784474468_n-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/711709670_1437979585030703_6632055510784474468_n-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/06\/711709670_1437979585030703_6632055510784474468_n-280x350.jpg 280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" alt=\"\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MONTGOMERY, Ala. \u2013 U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the detection of a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":2562,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[89,58],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-3998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-animal-health-news","category-animalhealth-news","post-thumbnail-displayed"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3998"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3998\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4003,"href":"https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3998\/revisions\/4003"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3998"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=3998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}